Laptops

Microsoft unveils the brand new Surface Laptop Studio

A mashup of the MacBook Pro and iPad Pro?

Published

September 23, 2021

Vincenz

Simultaneously launched with the updated Surface Duo 2, Microsoft also announces an all-new product that would blow your minds off. The brand new Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is not your ordinary Surface or laptop for any matter. It’s more of a compact Surface Studio and also the successor to the Surface Book 3.

The most powerful Surface laptop yet

First and foremost, the specs are not kidding. You can choose between 11th Gen Intel Core i5 or i7 H-Series quad-core processors and 16GB or 32GB of LPDDR4x memory. SSD storage options goes from 256GB all the way to 2TB. Unlike the current line of MacBook Pros, the SSD is user-swappable.

Other than that, its GPU won’t disappoint you. Whether it’s all about 3D rigging and animation, motion graphics rendering, and even gaming, the Surface Laptop Studio can handle all of that with ease.

The Core i7 model has NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 3050 Ti with 4GB GDDR6 memory. Enabling ray-traced graphics and DirectX 12 Ultimate will give you exceptional quality and incredible performance. If you opt out for the Core i5 variant, it ships with Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics instead.

With all such power, you can expect components to heat up. But Microsoft has a solution to that with its passive cooling and industry-leading thermal design.

Batteries are rated to last up to 19 hours with the Core i5 model and 18 hours on the more powerful i7 variant.

But wait, it’s not just a laptop…

There are other two modes other than the laptop. There’s a tent-like mode where the hinge magnetically snaps onto place. This is beneficial when watching flicks and viewing other playable content.

Turn down the screen further. Alas! A laptop transforms into a tablet without turning the screen all the way to 360 degrees. Instead it has a hinge design similar to that of the original Surface Studio where the laptop screen can be tilted all the way down to the surface level.

Not only you can jot down notes or do some scribbling, you can also be serious with your craft as it supports the Surface Slim Pen 2.

If you’re worrying about storage and charging, it can be stored beneath the laptop and charges magnetically — just like the Apple Pencil 2 in the newer iPads.

The popular Surface Dial that made its debut in the Surface Studio is also compatible especially if you’re used with that Surface-exclusive accessory.

120Hz screen on a Surface?

Yup! You’re reading it right. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has an oh-so-smooth 120Hz 14.4-inch “PixelSense Flow” display (not to confuse with Google’s line of Pixel phones) that’s also a touchscreen. Not only it’s calibrated to meet any content creator’s needs, it also supports Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos 4 as well.

For specifics, it’s a 3:2 display with a resolution of 2400 x 1600 and a pixel density of 201 ppi. Contrast ratio is 1500:1.

As we already mentioned Dolby audio, it also features Quad Omnisonic speakers with dual invisible woofers for that richer and fuller sound. This means it’s an all-in-one multimedia device on the fly.

For online meetings, its 1080p resolution front facing camera and dual far-field Studio Mics are advantageous for clearer calls.

Great power comes with great connectivity options

The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio sure is a future-proof device. Not only it has a 3.5mm audio jack and a dedicated charging port, it also has two USB-C 4.0 ports with Thunderbolt 4 support.

Not only the ports can connect fast external HDDs, SSDs, and newer devices, you can also hook up dual 4K-5K monitors and even an eGPU for that glamorous setup and immersive visual experience whether for work or play.

It also has the speedy Wi-Fi 6 modem as well as Bluetooth 5.1 for less latency.

Software Goodies

The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio runs the latest Windows 11 Home. It’s preloaded with Microsoft 365 apps and a 30-day trial of 365 Home. It also comes with the Xbox App and a one-month trial of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

For biometrics, the user can rely on Windows Hello face authentication system. It doesn’t have any fingerprint scanner though.

Pricing and Availability

Pre-orders for the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio starts today with a base price of US$ 1,599.99. It is expected to be shipped on October 5, 2021.

Laptops

Hands-on: NEW iPhone 17e, iPad Air, MacBooks, Studio Displays

What Apple has announced other than the MacBook Neo

Published

March 9, 2026

GadgetMatch and Michael Josh Villanueva

The MacBook Neo was the star of yesterday’s Apple event, and it has every right to be but it’s been a big week for Apple.

So as promised, we also went hands-on with every other device announced this week: iPhone 17e, M4 iPad Air, M5 MacBook Air, MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, and the new Studio Displays.

Hands-On

Apple MacBook Neo Hands-on

Say Hello to Apple’s Most Affordable Laptop!

Published

March 5, 2026

GadgetMatch and Michael Josh Villanueva

Apple finally has a MacBook for the budget-conscious!

In this video, we take a look at the latest MacBook Neo — Apple’s most affordable laptop at $599.

It’s the perfect first computer for students, families, and anyone who’s always wanted a Mac but couldn’t justify the price.

Here’s our exclusive hands-on with the all-new MacBook Neo for you to check out.

Laptops

MacBook Neo enters the chat with a $599 starting price

Here comes a new challenger

Published

March 5, 2026

Rodneil Quiteles

Apple has a new contender in the ring. And if you grew up on fighting games, the reveal almost feels like that classic moment when the screen flashes: Here comes a new challenger.

Meet the MacBook Neo — Apple’s newest and most affordable laptop yet. Starting at just US$599 (US$499 for education), it aims to bring the Mac experience to a much wider audience.

Despite the lower entry price, Apple isn’t treating this like a stripped-down Mac. The new machine still carries a full aluminum design, a vibrant display, and Apple silicon performance — the same core pillars that define the modern Mac lineup.

The goal is simple: make the Mac more accessible without losing the parts that make it feel premium.

A colorful new entry

At first glance, MacBook Neo looks every bit like a modern Mac. It features a durable aluminum enclosure with soft rounded edges and weighs just 2.7 pounds, making it easy to toss in a backpack or handbag.

Apple is also leaning into color here. The laptop comes in four finishes: blush, indigo, silver, and citrus. The Magic Keyboard matches each colorway with lighter shades, creating a cohesive look across the entire device.

Front and center is a 13-inch Liquid Retina display with a 2408 × 1506 resolution, 500 nits of brightness, and support for one billion colors. Apple says the panel delivers sharper text and brighter visuals than most laptops in this price category.

It’s a display designed to make everyday tasks — browsing, watching videos, editing photos — feel a little more vibrant.

A18 Pro powers everyday performance

Under the hood, MacBook Neo runs on Apple’s A18 Pro chip — the same architecture that powers some of Apple’s most advanced mobile devices.

Apple says the chip delivers up to 50 percent faster everyday performance compared to the bestselling PC powered by Intel Core Ultra 5. For AI-heavy tasks like applying advanced photo effects or running on-device intelligence features, the system can be up to three times faster.

The chip also includes a 16-core Neural Engine for Apple Intelligence features and a 5-core GPU for graphics workloads. The system is completely fanless, which means silent operation even under load.

In practical terms, that translates to smooth multitasking across apps like Messages, Safari, Canva, Excel, and more.

Built for all-day use

Battery life is another highlight. Thanks to the efficiency of Apple silicon, MacBook Neo can run for up to 16 hours on a single charge.

The laptop also includes a 1080p FaceTime HD camera with improved image processing, along with dual microphones that use directional beamforming to reduce background noise during calls.

For audio, dual side-firing speakers support Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos for a more immersive listening experience.

The device features Apple’s Magic Keyboard and a large Multi-Touch trackpad, while select models include Touch ID for quick and secure logins.

Connectivity includes two USB-C ports for charging and accessories, a headphone jack, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 6.

The Mac experience, now more accessible

MacBook Neo ships with macOS Tahoe, complete with built-in apps like Safari, Photos, Messages, and FaceTime. It also supports Apple Intelligence features such as Writing Tools and Live Translation.

For users already in the Apple ecosystem, Continuity features make switching between devices seamless. Tools like Handoff, Universal Clipboard, and iPhone Mirroring let users move between Mac and iPhone without breaking their workflow.

With its $599 starting price, MacBook Neo now becomes the most affordable entry point into the Mac lineup — a position long rumored but never quite realized until now.

In fighting game terms, Apple didn’t just add another character to the roster.

It added one meant for a whole new set of players.

Pricing and availability in Singapore and the Philippines

In Singapore, the MacBook Neo starts at S$849 and S$729 for education. Customers can pre-order the new MacBook Neo from Friday, March 6.

In the Philippines, Apple’s friendliest-to-the-budget MacBook starts at ₱39,990 and ₱33,990 for education. They will be available soon on apple.com/ph/store and Apple Authorized Resellers.